Our Arts

One of the Three Nam Yang Kung Fu Cores

The White Crane Soft Art

The White Crane Soft Art is one of the major three cores of Nam Yang Kung Fu where every student is taught to master a set of 66 moves. It is a Martial Art emphasising relaxed, calm and gentle moves performed slowly and continuously.

The term “soft” doesn’t mean soft in the sense of weakness. It is soft in the sense that the moves are done in a gentle purposeful way very much as a Crane moves. The body is not tense but relaxed and balanced, while the mind is calm and the breathing natural.

In this way the Qi (Life Energy) flows smoothly through the body and conditions your health and strength.

The Crane in our Logo signifies the softer part of Nam Yang’s style of Chinese Martial Arts. When combined with the hard core of Nam Yang’s kung fu – the Three Wars Form (Sam Chien) – you attain the Union of The Tiger & The Crane; the Union of Hard and Soft.

A Master user of the soft White Crane kung fu movements can repel a more forceful opponent. This goes back to ancient Chinese combat teachings where an ounce of energy skilfully applied can upset a heavier opponent.

The White Crane Soft Art when practiced regularly bolsters both fitness and health. In  ancient Chinese theory, Soft Martial Arts like this and Tai Chi use the mind and not strength, and their power lies not in the moves but in guiding one’s Qi – for this is the aim in practising a soft art.

The Three Wars Form

Sam Chien

Sam Chien or the Three Wars Form is the main core of Nam Yang Kung Fu.  All students learn this Vital Art. Its Moves and Patterns are used both for offence and defence  and is thus much more vigorous than the Soft White Crane movements, Sam Chien develops both bodily and mental strength.

The Three Wars could also mean that in order to master Sam Chien – one must bring three warring parties into harmony.

Who are these warring parties?  They are none other than yourself. The Three Wars is an ancient mystical reference to one’s Spirit, Mind and Body. When our Mind disregards the Body and the Body disregards the Spirit, we are thus in a State of Three Wars and Disharmony.

But when the Spirit, Mind and Body work as one, the student acquires mastery over himself and power to use the forms effectively. These principles may have evolved from Shaolin Zen teachings.

ORIGIN:

Sam Chien is a Southern Chinese Combat Form; supposed to have originated from the Fujian Shaolin Temple hundreds of years ago. It was also imported by the Japanese Okinawans who practice a form of Karate based on the original Fujian forms. There are many variations of Sam Chien in South China.

THE NAMYANG SAM CHIEN FORMS:

The style of Kung Fu taught in Nam Yang, was founded by Grandmaster Ang Lian Huat in 1954, from the Tiger Crane Combination Form. The form was passed down by  Grandmaster Ang to his successor, Master Tan Soh Tin. It consists of 11 basic hand routines, (referred to as either forms, patterns or sets), which constitutes the basic training.

The Qi Gong We Practise

Tong Ling Qi Gong

At Nam Yang Singapore we practice the Tong Ling Zi Ran Qi Gong style as taught by Master Huang Xing Xiang.

There are a few hundred styles of qigong practiced in China today, each one of them unique on their own. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine the flow of “qi” and blood complement each other for us to maintain health, prevent and cure ailments. This leads to the cultivating of the mind, the body and the spirit.

The word “Qi” is the Chinese Word for Life Energy and “gong” means the work or practice of harnessing this Life Energy to improve one’s health and attain harmony of mind and body. In all Qigong Practice, a form of Diaphragm or Abdominal breathing is done where the lower abdomen and lower back expand with inhalation and contract with exhalation.

Qigong is divided into 2 types. The Movement or Active type in which the breathing exercise is performed while actively making different slow movements. The meditative type is where you sit in a position, relax yourself and practice Qi breathing.

Traditional Chinese Medicine stressed the prevention rather than cure for illness. Thus, the training of qigong is to strengthen ourselves and immunise ourselves against illness. The benefits of these training can only be felt when one does it regularly and consistently. The practice of qigong existed for over 5000 years. It was readily accepted by people of all generations due to its unique qualities.

The word “Tong” means clearing, access, flowing and circulating. In this context it means clearing the diseased “qi” from your meridians, enhancing smooth flow of blood and “qi” circulating the universe and gaining access to the cosmic power. “Ling” means effectiveness, swiftness and alertness. It is effective in the treatment of diseases, in strengthening the body and cultivating sixth sense and psychic power.

Master Huang Xing Qiang from Guilin, China studied qigong Chinese Herbal Medicine and “Wushu” since his childhood days with renowned masters of those days. He was involved as lecturer and adviser to various academic institutions since 1978. He is the founder of the Tong Ling Qigong.

There are 11 basic exercises in the Tong Ling Qigong system. The requirements of these exercises are simple and easy to learn. All the exercises can be done in a small place. Any individual who trains in this qigong can acquire strong qi sensations after a short practice period. The practitioner will be able to feel the increase in his mental power and health.

As we practice the Qigong through the different exercises, we are harmonising the flow of Qi in our body, mainly the flow of the micro and the macro orbit. Along the spine are all our vital organs and as we bend and twist our spine during the qigong exercises, we are actually massaging the vital organs in our body and thus maintaining our health. The organs in our body function together and complement each other so we have to keep them in good shape all the time.

Case histories have shown that some diseases can be overcome by practicing Qigong. Common are high blood pressure, anaemia, stress and nervousness, migraine, inflammation of nose and throat, asthma, sinuses and stroke related problems. If we exercise regularly, we can prevent a lot of illness from coming our way.

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